“My ranch?” Cud said, and glanced at Rika.
“The cows,” Rika said.
That seemed to amuse Cud Sten. “So you reckon I’m a rancher, huh? Do you hear that, boys?”
Some of the others laughed.
“Why else would you be herding cows in all this snow?” Fargo feigned ignorance.
“Makes you wonder,” Cud said.
“I’d be obliged if I could stay a night or two to rest up. As for this horse, I’ll pay for him, or another if you have one to spare.”
Cud’s interest perked and he leaned forward. “Have a lot of money on you, do you?”
“Hardly any,” Fargo said. The money that they had taken from Tull was wrapped up in his saddlebags. “You’d have to sell it to me cheap.”
The redhead gigged his mount closer and wagged his six-shooter. “I don’t believe a word this coyote says. I say we blast him and be on our way.”
Cud Sten’s features hardened. “Are you the boss now, Lear? Are you giving orders now?”
The redhead blanched. “No, Cud! Never. Not me. I wouldn’t ever do that. I’m just saying, is all.”
For a few seconds all eyes were on Sten as if they expected an explosion of violence.
“Is that a fact?”
“Please, Cud. I’ve been with you a long time. You know me.”
Cud Sten smiled, and the others visibly relaxed. “I’ll let it pass this time. But only because I’m in a good mood.”
“Lucky devil,” one of the others said.
Cud turned to Fargo. “I don’t rightly know what to do with you yet, so I’m taking you with me until I do. If it turns out you’re lying, I’ll do things to you that would make an Apache green with envy. If you have any objections, let me hear them.”
Fargo starred at the ring of hard faces and the ring of revolver muzzles, and he did the only thing he could under the circumstances. He smiled and spread his hands. “Where are we headed?”
12
Fargo’s luck wasn’t all bad. They didn’t tie him or search him. Two did ride on either side of him, their hands on their six-shooters. Rika was up ahead, the rest behind with the cows.
One of those guarding him was Lear, and Fargo tried to strike up a conversation.
“You don’t like strangers much, I take it?”
“I don’t like anybody. So shut the hell up.”
When Rika came to the tracks Fargo had discovered earlier, he drew rein. Cud Sten rode up and asked why Rika had stopped.
“Another shod horse,” Rika said, pointing at the hoof prints. “Not Tull’s. It went that way.” He pointed across the grassy flatland.
“
“Want me to have a look-see?”
“Of course. We’ll be at the cabin. Bring him back breathing. Maybe he’s a pard of simpleton here.” Cud waved his club at Fargo. “If so, they’ll have a heap of explaining to do.”
Rika nodded and trotted toward the far trees.
Cud rose in the stirrups and bellowed at the men tending the cows, “Keep ’em moving. I aim to reach her place before dark. If we don’t, it will rile me, and you don’t want me riled.”
Fargo clucked to the sorrel and brought it up next to Sten’s animal. Neither Lear nor the other guard tried to stop him. “Mind if we talk?”
Cud regarded him with a mix of contempt and curiosity. “What’s on your mind, simpleton?”
“What do you aim to do with me?”
“I’ve already done told you. I don’t rightly know. Could be you’re just passing through—in which case maybe I’ll let you live. Could be you told me a pack of lies—in which case I’ll break every bone in your body before I pound your skull in.”
Fargo nodded at the club. “I don’t see many of those.”
“They’re right handy.” Grinning, Cud smacked the club against the palm of his other hand. “As quiet as a knife and better than a pair of fists.” He patted the club.
“How’d you come to use one?”
“The first time was in a saloon fight. I busted a chair over a fella’s head and it broke. He had some friends, and I took a chair leg to them. I liked it so much, I had this made.” Cud fondled the thick end of the club. “Can’t tell you how many heads I’ve split open.” He gave Fargo a meaningful look.
“I heard you mention a cabin. Is that where you’re taking me?”
“A lady friend of mine lives there. If you know what’s good for you, you won’t go anywhere near her. I’ve got plans for that little lady.”
“To be hitched?”
“Hell, simpleton, I ain’t the marrying kind. No, me and her are going to live in sin, as church folk say.”
“The lady likes that idea, does she?”
“Whether she does or she doesn’t, she don’t have a say.” Cud licked his thick lips. “I’ve been after this filly for a long time now and she keeps putting me off. But not anymore. This time I’m having my way.” He stopped and scowled. “Why the hell am I telling you this? I don’t know you from Adam. Go back with the cows and don’t pester me.”
“One more thing,” Fargo said.
Cud swore and swung the club.
Fargo tried to dodge but he couldn’t pull far enough back. The club caught him on the shoulder and sent pain shooting through clear down to his toes. His boot came out of the stirrup and he was nearly unhorsed. Clinging to the saddle horn with his other hand, he managed to pull himself back up.
Sten’s men were hooting and laughing.
“That’ll learn you,” Cud growled. “When I tell you to do something, you damn well do it. Get back with the cows, and don’t let out a peep or you’ll lose some teeth.”
Fargo had no choice. Lear and the other man went with him, Lear chortling in sadistic glee.
The ride to the valley took an eternity. Fargo was afraid that when they got to the cabin Mary and the kids would rush out to greet him and Cud Sten would realize everything he had said was a lie. He wanted to try for the forest but he would be shot dead before he reached it. In a mental funk, he didn’t look around when one of the men yelled.
Cud Sten drew rein and twisted in the saddle. “Well, will you look at that? Today is full of surprises.”
Fargo stopped and turned.
Rika was trotting toward them, leading the Ovaro by the reins. The saddle was still on but it had shifted, and the Henry rifle was no longer in the scabbard. Rika was holding it.
“Any trouble?” Cud asked.
“The horse was by itself,” Rika revealed. “It’s worn-out and hungry. Must have been wandering for days.”
“And the gent who owns it?”
Fargo said, “That would be me.”
All of them looked at him.
“I told you I lost my horse in the blizzard, remember? I was worried I’d lost him for good. Now you can have your friend’s horse back and I’ll take mine and be on my way.”
“Like hell you will,” Cud said. He kneed his mount over to the Ovaro and patted the stallion’s neck. “This here is one fine animal. I might take a notion to keep him for myself.”
